PIMS tragedy: Federal Govt accepts IHRA Chairman’s resignation

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and obtained by Minute Mirror, the resignation has been accepted

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has accepted the resignation of Dr. Muhammad Riaz Shahbaz Janjua as Member and Chairman of the Board of the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA), with effect from August 31, 2026.

According to a notification issued by the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and obtained by Minute Mirror, the resignation has been accepted under Section 5(2), read with Section 8(a), of the Islamabad Healthcare Regulation Act, 2018.

The notification further states that following the cessation of Dr. Janjua’s membership of the IHRA Board, he will also cease to hold the office of Chairperson of the authority with immediate effect.

The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of healthcare oversight in the federal capital following the deaths of 14 newborns at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). The tragedy has triggered urgent deliberations by the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Health, which are meeting on August 31 to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and broader issues of hospital management and regulation.

Doctors and health experts have raised questions over the effectiveness of regulatory mechanisms governing hospitals in Islamabad and have called for stronger institutional oversight and accountability.

Dr. Janjua’s departure is being viewed as a significant administrative development in the aftermath of the PIMS tragedy, as attention intensifies on the performance of healthcare regulators and hospital authorities.

The notification, signed by Section Officer Dr. Muhammad Zubair Abdullah, will be published in Part-II of the Extraordinary Gazette of Pakistan.